Electric-circuit-controlling appliance



A ril 15, 1930. J. sAcHs ELECTRIC CIRCUIT CONTROLLING APPLIANCE Original Filed Oct. 30, 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet l I r 6 M 2 3 a I a 4 4 M J w 3, M Y J 2 I fl 3 3 3 5 Mr 3 1 MW 3 7 I 5 G 9:... 8 Q 2 2 r I 5 u 2 3 N a a 2 April 15, 1930. SACHS 1,754,440

ELECTRIC CIRCUIT CONTROLLING APPLIANCE Original Filed Oct. 30, 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Apr, 1 1

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ELECTRIG-CIRCUIT-CON TBOLLIN G APPLIANCE Application filed October 30, 1924, Serial No. 746,911. Renewed January 20, 1930.

This invention is particularly applicable to those electrical appliances which have circult controlling means, preferably including switching and fusing elements, enclosed wlth- 5 in a protecting cabinet which can be sealed so as to render the live parts inaccessible; but the invention is not so limited.

Devices of this general character have heretofore been constructed with the main switching device located between the main body of the insulating base and the wall upon which the base is mounted, which wall may be and commonly is the back wall of an enclosing cabinet. The switches as heretofore used for this purpose have included pivoted or oscillating switching blades with the result that a considerable amount of space was required between the body of the base and the supporting wall in order to permit Elli operation 2 of the switch and to provide the necessary clearances therefor. In accordance with the present invention I am able not only to considerably simplify the construction but also, to greatly reduce the amount of space required by providing a switch in which the movable member is movable rectilinearly and parallelly with the supporting wall. One object of the invention, therefore, is to provide an electrical appliance of the general character described having an improved arrangement of parts and improved details of construction, all of which are made possible by the use of a rectilinearly movable switching member in combination with other parts of 3 the appliance.

A further object of the invention is to provide in combination with the insulating base and with the rectilinearly movable switching member an insulating member additional to the base and held in fixed position adjacent the rear supporting wall, the said switching member being movable between the base and the said additional insulating member.

A further feature of the invention consists in the formation of the insulating base with a confining slot therein in which the rectilinearly movable switching member is located and through which said member moves. The movable switching member moves into the 50 slot as the contact is broken, and the tendency to are at the point of rupture is reduced due to the fact that the arc will not follow into the slot. Another object of the invention, therefore, is to provide an appliance of the character set forth having the switching element thereof movable in a confining slot in the base, referably extending from one face thereo this feature being provided in combination with other details of the appliance.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an improved operating handle located outside of the enclosing cabinet and particularly adapted in its construction and mounting for use with a rectilinearly movable switching member such as already described.

Still further objects of the invention will be apparent from the following specification and claims.

In the accompanying drawings I have shown one embodiment of the invention, but it will be understood that this particular embodiment has been selected merely for purposes of illustration and that the drawings are not be construed as defining or limiting the scope of the invention, the claims forming a part of this specification being reli ed u mn for that purpose. It will be particulai'l understood that I do not limit myself to an enclosing cabinet of the particular type disclosed, and that as concerns the details of cabinet construction there can be wide variation.

In the accompanying drawings Fig. 1 shows a front view of a device that embodies the invention with the cover of the cabinet removed. Fig. 2 shows a transverse horizontal section of the device taken from the bottom. Fig. 3'shows a vertical section of the device taken from the right with the switch base appearing in elevation. Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the meter and circuit connections that may be made with the device.

The cabinet 1 which is illustrated is formed to the desired size and shape from sheet metal, with a cover 2 which may be hinged at the lower end to the bottom wall 3. Openings are left in the side walls 4 near the lower end of the cabinet which may be used when desired for connecting two or more cabinets in series or bank formatlon. As illustrated the edges of the side walls adjacent to the bottom wall as illustrated on the left of Fig. 1. Should it be desired to use the device in connection with others or in bank formation, troughs 9 may be slipped longitudinally into the openings and fastened by the screws as illustrated on the ri ht of Fig. 1.

In accordance with the invention I provide an insulating base 12 which is so constructed and arranged that the main body portion thereof is spaced from the surface or wall upon which the base is mounted. Preferably and ordinarily the supporting wall is the back wall of the enclosing cabinet 1 as shown in the drawings. The insulating base 12 is relatively small in size and shallow in depth and it is suitably fastened to the said back wall of the cabinet. The main body 12' of the base is separated from the back wall of the cabinet so as to provide a space in which a switching mechanism may be located.

As shown and as preferred there is a stationary switch contact or clip 14 carried by the base adjacent the back thereof, and preferably there is also a second stationary switch move with the conducting element.

contact or clip 15 also carried by the base adjacent the back thereof. Fornormally establishing an electrical connection through the switch, there is provided a movable switching member which includes a conducting element 18 normally engaging both of the clips 14 and 15. The switching member, or at least the conducting element 18 thereof, is rectilinearly movable parallelly with the supporting wall, that is, with the back wall of the cabinet. Upon movement in one direction the conducting element 18 is disengaged from at least one of the switch contacts or clips, as for instance the clip 14. Upon movement in the other direction the clip 14 is reengaged to reestablish the electrical connection.

The switching member as an entirety includes not only the conducting element 18 as already described, but it also includes an insulating element 19 which is connected to These two elements together may be regarded as constituting the movable switching memher, the element 18v having the function of making or breaking the electrical connection, and the element 19 having the function of transmitting the required motion to the element 18 from the operating handle or other mechanism which may be provided.

As already stated the body portion 12 of the base is spaced from the su porting wall 1 and, as shown and as referre this spacing is effected by means 0 pedestal portions 12", 12 formed as integra parts of the base. These pedestal portions extend backward so as to engage the supporting wall and they are spaced apart ,so as to form a slot 20 between them. Suitable means such as screws 13, 13 are provided for fastening the base to the back wall of the cabinet.

The slot 20 is so located as to contain the movable switching member, and the portion 20 of the slot which contains the conductin element 18 is of such size that a restricte passageway is provided for the said element. When the element 18 is in a plane perpendicular to the rear face of the base as shown, the

portion 20 of the slot is narrow and rela-.

inward direction into the portion 20 of the slot with the result that there is a tendency to break or rupture the arc, the reason being that the arc will not follow into the slot but on the contrary tends to move outward from the slot.

For effecting the manual operation of the switching member an operating mechanism is provided which includes a handle located at the outside of the cabinet. The details of the construction of the operating means may be varied, but preferably and in accordance with one phase of the invention the operating means extends through a wall of the cabinet which is perpendicular to the back wall thereof and includes a handle outside of the cabinet and movable in a lane perpendicular to the said back wall. referably, the handle is not only movable in the said perpendicular plane, but it is pivoted for movement about an axis perpendicular to the direction of the rectilinear movement of the switching member, which axis may if desired be also parallel to both. of the said walls of the cabinet. As shown in detail in the drawings there is provided a bell-crank lever 21 which extends through one of the side walls of the cabinet and is pivotally mounted thereon at 21. The inner end of the lever 21 constitutes a back ward extending crank and is connected with the insulating element 19 of the switching member. As a matter of convenience of construction the said insulating member 19 is pivotally connected with the conducting element 18 as indicated at 19 and itis pivotally connected with the lever 21 as indicated at 19". The lever 21 is desirably formed of metallic rod and its outer end is bent to provide the switch operating handle 21". By oscillating this handle the switch member may be reciprocated for opening and closing the circuit between the clips.

For guiding the switching member particularly the conducting element 18 thereof and also for effectively insulating the said element from the back wall of the cabinet, an insulating means is provided in the space between the said element 18 and the said back wall. When the element 18 is located in and is movable in a slot 20 as shown and described the insulating means takes the form of an element 22 of insulating material additional to the base and located in the said slot 20. As shown the element 22 is stationary or in fixed relation with the base, but as to this I do not necessarily limit myself. The said body is of such size and is so positioned that it serves to prevent any considerable movement of the conducting element 18, particularly of the outer end thereof, rearward toward the back wall of the cabinet;

As a further means for guiding and supporting the conducting element 18 of the switching member, I may provide means carried by one of the switch contacts, as for instance the contact 15, and also engaging the said conducting element. As shown and as preferred there is provided for this purpose a pin 16 which extends transversely between the ears of the clip 15 and which also extends through a longitudinal slot 17 in the element I preferably provide in addition to the switch and its associated parts as already described a pair of fuse contacts so mounted on the base as to be accessible from the front thereof. Preferably the fuse contacts are on the front face of the base and they are shown as being adapted for the reception of a fuse of the screw plug type. These contacts are shown at 26 and 27 respectively. An elec-' trical connection is provided between one of the switch contacts and one of the fuse contacts. Preferably the central fuse receiving contact is in the form of a screw which extends directly through the base and which directly engages the switch clip 15 to establish an electrical connection therewith and also to mechanically hold the switch clip in place.

In order to establish a circuit through the device there are provided two wire receiving terminals 24 and 28. one connected with the remaining switch contact 14 and the other connected with the remaining fuse contact 27. The clip 14 has a bent strip 14 which is attached by a screw 23 to the downwardly extending terminal 24 which has a binding screw 25 located in a recess in the front face of the base. The outer or threaded fuse receiving contact 27 is connected with the upwardly extending terminal 28 which is provided with a binding screw 29. A downward- 1y extending wire receivingterminal 36 is attached to the front face of the base and is provided with binding screws 37 and 38.

In addition to the parts already described I have shown a test switch which may be connected into the circuit and which may be manually opened when it is desired to test the meter with which the appliance may be associated. Preferably and as shown the test switch is located on the front of the base and adjacent the end thereof which is opposite the switch contact 14 and the corresponding terminal 24. As a matter of convenience of construction and economy of space the test switch is arranged with its movable switch ing member located in .a plane perpendicular to the direction of movement of the main switching member. In the construction as shown the front face of the base is provided with recesses in which are set forwardly extending contact plates 30 and 31 provided with binding screws 32 and 33. A switch member 34 is pivoted to one of these plates and is adapted to be swung into and out of engagement with the other plate, a handle 35 of insulation being provided for the purpose of moving it. The terminal lugs 24, 28 and 36 and the plates 30 and 31 may have their ends 39 shaped to provide contacts for the ready attachment of testing clips.

As already stated the appliance embodying the invention is adapted to be arranged with the cabinet thereof protectively associated with the terminal chamber of a meter.

The terminal chamber X of the meter M is inserted through an opening in the top wall of the cabinet for protecting the connecting wires in the usual manner, Fig. 4. One of the service mains 41 is adapted to be connected by the binding screw 25 to the lug, 24. and the other service main 42 is designed to be clamped by the screw 38 to the lug 36. One meter current-coil terminal is connected by lead 43 with the lug 28, and the other meter current-coil terminal is connected by lead 44 with the plate 30 by screw 32. In the form of meter illustrated the potential terminals are bridged and one is connected by lead 45 with the lug 36 by the binding screw 37, and the other is connected with a load wire 46; Th other load wire 47 is connected with the plate 31, by the binding screw 33.

\Vhen the switch member is drawn away from the clip 14 by the foru ard movement of the handle'21 the circu t is opened on the service Side of the meter hen the handle is moved rearward the switch member is pushed into the clip and the circuit is closed. The circuit is protected on the service side of the meter by a plug fuse 48 screwed into the threaded shell. \Vhen desired for testing purposes, the test switch 34 on the load side of the meter may be manipulated as necessarv.

With this structure the main switch is on the back of the base where it is out of the way and is completely enclosed so that it will operate with safety. As the switch member reciprocates, rather than oscillates as 1n the common type of device of this class, the front of the base may be located closer to the back of the cabinet, no large space being necessary between the base and the back of the cabinetthe load side of the meter and is on the front" of the base where it is accessible when desired.

As a result of the arrangement described the cabinet in which the parts are arranged can be made much smaller in length and much shallower in depth than those in present use, and consequently there is a saving 1n material. in wei ht, and in space occupled, which results 1n a reduction in the cost of manufacture, shipping expenses and bandling. Notwithstanding this saving the connections for the service, load, and meter wires can be easily made and the elements and lines protected whether the device 15 used individually or in a bank of devlces.

The invention claimed is 2-- 1. In an electric switch, the combination of an insulating base, means for holding the said base in fixed relation to a supporting surface with the back of the base facing the said surface, a stationary switch contact connected with the base adjacent the back thereof, a movable conducting switching element located between the main body of the base and the plane of the said supporting surface and normally engaging the said contact to establish an electrical connection through the switch, a body of insulating material supplemental to the base and interposed between the conducting element and the plane of the said supporting surface in position to prevent movement of the conducting element toward the said plane, and means for rectilinearly moving the said conducting element in either direction parallelly with the plane of the aforesaid supporting surface to disengage it from or reengage it with the said contact.

2. In an electric switch, the combination of an insulating base, means for holding the said base in fixed relation to asupporting surface with the back of the base facing the said surface, a pair of fuse receiving contacts on the base accessible from the front thereof, two stationary switch contacts carried entirely by the base adjacent the back thereof, a movable conducting switching element located between the main body of the base and the plane of the said supporting surface and normally engaging both of the said contacts to establish an electrical connection between them, means electrically connecting one switch contact and one fuse receiving contact, two wire receiving terminals on the base accessible from the front thereof, one terminal being normally electrically connected with the other fuse receiving contact and the other being electrically connected with the other switch contact, and means for rectilinearly moving the said conductin element in either direction parallelly wit the plane of the aforesaid supporting surface to disengage it from or reengage it with one of the said switch contacts.

3. In an electric switch, the combination of an insulating base, means for holding the said base in fixed relation to a supporting surface with the back of the base facing the said surface, a stationary switch contact connected with the base adjacent the back thereof, an insulating member additional to the base and held in a fixed position immediately adjacent the said supporting surface, and a conducting switching element rectilinearly movable between the main body of the base and the said insulating member and parallelly with the plane of the said supporting surface, the said conducting element being prevented by the said insulating member from moving toward the supporting surface and being adapted when rectilinearly moved as aforesaid to enga e and disengage the said contact to make an break an electrical connection through the switch.

4. In an electric switch, the combination of an insulating base, means for holding the said base in fixed relation to a supporting surface with the back of the base facing the said surface, a stationary switch contact connected with the base ad'acent the back thereof, an insulating mem er additional to the base and held in a fixed position immediately adjacent the said supporting surface, a conducting switching element rectilinearly movable between the main body of the base and the said insulating member and parallelly with the plane of the said supporting surface, the said conducting element being prevented by the said insulating member from moving toward the supportin surface and being adapted when rectilinear y moved as aforesaid to engage and disengage the said contact to make and break an electrical connection through the switch, an insulating element connected to and movable with the conducting element, and means engaging the said insulating element to move the conducting element rectilinearly as aforesaid.

5. In an electric switch, the combination of an insulating base, means for holding the said base in fixed relation to a supporting surface with the back of the base facing the said surface, a pair of fuse receiving contacts on the front face of the base, two stationary switch contacts in fixed position adjacent the back of the base, means electrically connecting one switch contact and one fuse contact, two wire terminals accessible from IOU the front, one terminal being normally electrically connected with the other fuse contact and the other being electrically connected with the other switch contact an insulating member additional to the base and held in a fixed position immediately adjacent the supporting surface, a conducting switching element rectilinearly movable between the main body of the base and the said insulating member and parallelly with the said supporting surface, the said conductin element being prevented by the said insu ating member from moving toward the said supporting surface and being adapted when rectilinearly moved as aforesaid to engage and disengage at least one of the said contacts to make and break an electrical connection between them, an insulating element connected to and movable with the conducting element, and means engaging the said insulating element to move the said conducting element rectilinearly as aforesaid.

6. In an electric switch, the combination of an insulating base having a slot formed therein and extending from one face thereof, a stationary switch contact carried by the base immediately adjacent the said slot, a flat conducting element located in the said slot and spaced from the plane of the said face of the base and having its opposite faces closely adjacent the opposed walls of the slot, the said conducting element normally engaging the said contact to establish an electrical connection through the switch, a body of insulating material supplemental to the base and located in the slot between the conducting element and the plane of the said block face and serving to hold the conducting element against movement toward the said plane, and means for rectilinearly moving the conducting element in either direction in the slot parallelly with the aforesaid face of the base to disengage it from or to reengage it with the said contact.

7. In an electric switch, the combination of an insulating base having a slot formed therein and extending from the back face thereof, means for holding the said base in fixed relation to a supporting surfacewith the back thereof facing the said surface, a stationary switch contact connected with the base immediately adjacent the said slot, a movable flat conducting switching element located in the said slot with its opposite faces closely adjacent the opposed walls of the slot, the said element being spaced from the plane of the said supporting surface and normally engaging the said contact to establish an electrical connection through the switch, and means for rectilinearly moving the switching element in either direction in the slot parallelly with the plane of the aforesaid supporting surface to disengage it from or to reengage it with the said contact.

8. In an electric switch, the combination of an insulating base vhaving a slot formed therein and extending from the back face thereof, means for holding the said base in fixed relation to a supportingsurface with the back thereof facing the said surface, a stationary switch contact connected with the base immediately adjacent the said slot, a movable fiat conducting switching element located in the said slot and spaced from the plane of the said back face of the base and having its opposite faces closely adjacent the opposed walls of the slot, the said conducting element normally engaging the said contact to establish an electrical connection through the switch, a body of insulating material su plemental to the base and located between tl ie switching element and the plane of the said supporting surface and serving to hold the switching element against movement toward the said plane, and means for rectilinearly moving the switch element in either direction in the slot parallelly with the plane of the aforesaid supporting surface to disengage it from or to reengage it with the said contact. 9. In an electric switch, the combination of an insulating base having a slot formed therein and extending from the back face thereof, means for holding the said base in fixed relation to a supporting surface with the back thereof facing the saidsurface, a pair of fuse receiving contacts on the front of the base, two switch contacts mounted in fixed relation to the base, the said contacts being immediately adjacent the said slot and spaced from the back face of the base, a flat conducting switching element located in the said slot with its opposite faces closely adjacent the opposed walls of the slot, the said element being spaced from the supporting surface and normally engaging both of the said switch contacts to establish an electrical connection between them, means electrically connecting one switch contact and one fuse receiving contact, two wire receiving terminals on the base accessible from the front thereof, one terminal being electrically connected with the other fuse receiving contact and the other terminal being electrically connected with the other switch contact, and means for rectilinearly moving the switching element in the slot in either direction parallelly with the supporting surface to disengage it from or to reengage it with one of the said switch contacts.

10. In an electric switch, the combination of an enclosing cabinet adapted to be opened at the front, an insulating base in the cabinet, means for holding the said base in fixed position in the cabinet with the back thereof facing the back wall of the cabinet. a switch contact connected with the base in normally fixed relation thereto, the said contact being adjacent but spaced from the back wall of the cabinet, a movable conducting switching element located between the main body of the base and the back wall of the cabinet and normally engaging the said contact to establish an electrlcal connection through the switch, and means for rectilinearly moving the said conducting element in either direction parallelly with the back wall of the cabinet to disengage it from or reengage it with the said contact, the said means extending through a wall of the cabinet perpendicular to the back wall thereof and including a manually operable pivoted handle outside of the cabinet.

11. In an electric switch, the combination of an enclosing cabinet adapted to be opened at the front, an insulating base in the cabinet, means for holding the said base in fixed position in the cabinet with the back thereof facing the back wall of the cabinet, a switch con tact connected with the base in normally fixed zo'relation thereto, the said contact being adjacent but spaced from the rear wall of the cabinet, a movable conducting switching element located between the main body of the base and the back wall of the cabinet and normally engaging the said contact to establish an electrical connection through the switch, and means for rectilinearly moving the said conducting element in either direction parallelly with the back wall of the cabinet to disengage it from or reengage it with the said contact, the said means extending. through a wall of the cabinet perpendicular to the back wall thereof and including a manually operable handle located outside of the cabinet and ivoted thereto independently of the base or movement about an axis parallel to the back wall of the cabinet.

12. In an electric switch, the combination of an enclosing cabinet adapted to be 0 ened at the front, an insulating base in the ca inet,

means for holding the said base in fixed osition in the cabinet with the back thereo facing the back wallof the cabinet, a switch contact connected with the base in normally 4 fixed relation thereto, a movable switching member located between the main body of the base and the back wall of the cabinet and including a conducting element normally engaging the said contact to establish an elec- 59 trical connection through the switch and also including an insulating element connected to and movable with the conducting element, the said conducting element of the switching member being rectilinearly movable in either direction parallelly with the back wall of the cabinet so as to be disengaged from or enaged with the said contact, and an operatng member including an externally accessible manually operable handle pivoted to the 60 cabinet for movement about an axis perpendicular to the direction of the aforesaid rectilinear movement and also including a crank enga ing the insulating element of the switc ing member to effect the said rectilinear movement.

13. In an electric switch, the combination of an enclosing cabinet adapted to be 0 ened at the front, an insulati base in the ca inet, means for holding the said base in fixed position in the cabinet with the back thereof facing the back wall of the cabinet, a switch contact connected with the base in normally fixed relation thereto, a movable switchin member located between the main body 0 the base and the back wall of the cabinet and including a conducting element normallyengaging the said contact to establish an electrical connection through the switch and also including an insulating element connected to and movable with the conducting element, the said conducting element of the switching member being rectllinearly movable in either direction parallelly with the back wall of the cabinet so as to be disengaged from or engaged with the said contact, and an operating member including an externally accessible manually operable handle pivoted to a wall of the cabinet perpendicular to the back wall for movement about an axis parallelto the 7 back wall and spaced forward therefrom and the said operating member also including a crank extending backward from the pivoted axis and engaging the insulating element of the switching member to effect the aforesaid rectilinear movement of the conducting element.

14. In an electric switch, the combination of an enclosing cabinet adapted to be opened at the front, an insulating base in the cabinet, means for holding the said base in fixed position in the cabinet, with the back thereof facing the back wall of the cabinet, a switch contact connected with the base in normally fixed relation thereto, the said contact being adjacent but spaced from the rear wall of the cabinet, a movable conducting switching element located between the main body of the base and the back wall of the cabinet and normally engaging the said contact to establish an electrical connection through the switch, and means for rectilinearly moving the said conducting element in either direction parallelly with the back wall of the cabinet to disengage it from or reengage it with the said contact, the said means including a manually operable handle located outside of the cabinet and pivoted to a wall of the cabinet perpendicular to the back wall thereof with the pivotal axis parallel to both of the said walls.

' JOSEPH SACHS. 

